The concrete is a festive teal.

The oversized Adirondack chairs are deep brilliant orange and purple.

And the wall of murals is a continuous splash of colors and eclectic designs that — to paraphrase the words of Manteca Deputy Director of Economic Development Vanessa Carrera — shouts stop in downtown and linger a bit longer.

It is against that backdrop city officials celebrated the completion of the Mural Alley “parklet” adjoining the municipal parking lot of the northwest corner of Yosemite and Sycamore avenues.

The transformation from just 18 months ago is stunning.

Homeless would still loiter in the space where the parklet is today, often catching a nap against where the “free-standing wall” was left standing after a 1980s fire or else the wall of an adjoining building that today is covered with murals.

It was blah and ugly at best with large expanses where drab beige paint was used to cover graffiti. It was anything but inviting.

And instead of shouting stop and linger, it screamed keep on driving.

That changed with an in-house collaboration of what to do with the space and parking lot the city purchased several years ago for $80,000.

And while the city is working a non-profit to develop a five-story low-income senior housing complex with retail on the ground floor, that likely won’t be happening for five years or so.

In the meantime, City Manager Toni Lundgren didn’t want it to stay as a somewhat cancerous spot on downtown that could convey the message that the central district was downtrodden instead of up and coming.

That is how Mural Alley was born.

First, the wall was reduced to a long sitting bench.

Then they shifted through 15 or so mural proposals. Next came lighting, the whimsical oversized Adirondack chairs and adjoining planters and the finishing touch of painting the concrete teal.

Employees in multiple city departments worked on the project including senior management that painted the concrete bases for poles shaped like stems with flowers on top.

They are — in conjunction with the adjoining building — used to allow the stringing of clear lights crisscrossing above the teal concrete.

Mayor Gary Singh shared how the city is no longer just talking about adding livable touches to Manteca but actually doing so as he addressed the gathering in front pf the segment of murals reading “Choose Good Vibes.”

“’Choose good vibes’; that’s a great motto not just for this space but for the entire community,” Singh said.

The mayor added, “art is really important (as) it plays a role in a sense of community.”

Singh hopes to see the city’s food truck winner parking their trailer soon at the location where groups of inline skaters may use as well.

He sees it as a venue for pop-up style events and impromptu music concerts that could involve community or high school musicians.

Brandy Clark, who serves as the Director of Parks, Recreation & Transit, noted “we have created a space not just to be looking at” but to use.

Clark said the goal is to bring people together to connect.

Lundgren said the parklet “might seem like it is small” but it could play an important role in downtown growing as a community gathering place.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com